Rating: 
Summary: Red, White & Liberal : How Left Is Right & Right Is Wrong
Review: Alan has a best seller in my view as he crosses to fair minded people who will look and read his work and try to see on both sides of the politcal aisle!A great book for Liberty and total american values!
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Summary: A Comedian Stands Up...and Proves He's Not Just An Act!
Review: Although Alan Colmes speaks from a liberal point of view, he does it on the Fox News Channel, which some say has a conservative bent. (In his book, Colmes argues that Fox really is "Fair and Balanced.") Worse still, Colmes recognizes that not every issue can be seen in terms of black and white, or, more specifically, liberal and conservative. He understands shades of gray. For these infractions, Colmes has drawn fire from some of his fellow liberals. Some have criticized him for being too moderate, and some even have gone so far as to suggest that he is not really one of them. As a cable holdout, I cannot discuss Colmes' commentary on "Hannity & Colmes," but if you are under the impression that the former comedian is just putting on another act every night, you should read "Red White & Liberal," which is one of the best books about politics I have read this year. In their email to Colmes, his fans often thank him for speaking for them, but here he has done more than that: he has given them the tools they need to articulate their own views, support them with facts and hold their own in the ongoing national debate. Colmes also provides a timely reminder that patriotism and love of God are not the sole property of the (Religious) Right. He points out that conservatives who dispute this may want to reread Christ's Sermon on the Mount, as well as various writings by Thomas Jefferson!
Nevertheless, if you are an independent or a conservative, you need not be put off by Colmes' subtitle, How Left is Right and Right is Wrong. Despite his liberal take on everything (including the policies of presidents past and present, religion, and even the verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial), Colmes reaches out to all sides, even including a chapter in which he discusses points of agreement with conservatives. He also couches his arguments in a wit that is dry but never nasty. This should provide a refreshing change for those who are fed up with the tone of our political discourse, which, in the seven years since Al Franken first set out to satarize it, has only gotten worse, judging by most of the email that Hannity and Colmes have received in response to their work--some of which Colmes reprints in his book--and several of the political screeds now parading across our bookshelves! While other pundits accuse each other of "Slander" and "Lies," leaving a "Legacy" of "Arrogance," Alan Colmes talks about the issues--in a tone that would not be out of place at a civilized dinner table. By "talks," I mean he provides genuine discussion with well-reasoned arguments, instead of rehashing tired sound bites and relying on gimmicky visual aids.
If you are an independent or a conservative who is willing to read opposing viewpoints, you should find Colmes to be an amiable Olive Branch to the liberal ideology. If you are a liberal, here is your charter. "Red, White & Liberal" will leave you thinking, "Right on!" Or should that be, "Left on?"
Rating: 
Summary: Trivializes Those Who Disagree
Review: Right from the outset, Alan Colmes' uses a sophomoric writing technique. Starting on page 3 and throughout the book he reproduces ignorant emails he's received from what I call the "lunatic fringe." I guess he wants to trivialize those whose opinions are opposite his. It's easy to mislead readers by re-publishing ridiculous broadsides while ignoring reliable counter-arguments. His Fox-TV co-host Sean Hannity, in 'Let Freedom Ring' avoids such a cheap trick, and by virtue of avoiding that writing device Hannity is more of an open-minded author.Maybe Colmes has been fantasizing life in Never-Never Land because many of his views are out of this world. Examples: Bill Clinton only told "white lies." Clinton's abject failure to "take out" Osama when he had the opportunity isn't mentioned. He likes Democratic Ted Kennedy, who broke the law by failing to report his Chappaquiddick accident and help a drowning woman, yet skewers Republican Bill Bennett for his gambling losses -- even though gambling in a casino breaks no laws. Wait, there's more: He credits Al Sharpton for crossing a picket line. But he never mentions Sharpton's horrible racial agitation in New York where he was a co-perpetrator of the Twana Brawley rape hoax and picketed a storeowner that culminated in a fire that left seven people dead. How does letting Sharpton off the hook promote civil rights? During what one would expect to be a respectful memorial service for Senator Paul Wellstone, the Democrats were yelling and chanting political slogans, yet Colmes attacks Republicans for "politicizing" the event. And Alan Colmes has the nerve to say conservatives are "shrill"? He redeems himself a little in his chapter entitled 'Where Right Is Right.' There he disagrees with leftists who tried to serve as "human shields" in Iraq, opposes the nonsensical demand for reparations for slavery to black Americans today, and praises Michelle Malkin's columns about how vulnerable our borders are to illegal immigrants. The chapter may only be 11 pages out of 308 pages of text, but it's something. All in all, a ho-hum book.
Rating: 
Summary: What planet is Alan Colmes on?
Review: I'm thinking Alan Colmes should have stuck to hair-brained comedy radio before he got serious with himself. For those who are liberal, it reads like a bible but quite frankly there's nothing worth reading in this book. There are some outlandish chapter titles to get your adrenaline going, but other than that. Pass.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't know why liberals are complaining
Review: Probably because they haven't read it. I enjoy the debate on Hannity & Colmes, read Hannity's book and thought I'd give this one a shot, too. Although I lean conservative, I find Hannity shrill and Colmes more down to earth. And since folks ranging from Bill O'Reilly to Bill Bennett to Newt Gingrich have gotten behind it, I figured it to be an informative read. Colmes is steeped in liberalism and explains his desire to help the needy, destitute and downtrodden among us--I'm with him all the way on that front. He says that he and fellow liberals and Democrats are every bit as patriotic as Republicans and conservatives. No argument there, either--we're all Americans in this country. That's where what I have in common with Colmes ends, however. The first third of this book goes well beyond questioning the reasons behind and the validity of the war on terror--Colmes makes it very clear that he thinks President Bush, John Ashcroft and the administration operate in secrecy and started the Iraq war for political gain. There are endless comparisons to Vietnam, and lots of space is devoted to everything the Reagan administration did to support Hussein in the 1980's when the USA and Iraq were working together against Iran. I tried to read his criticisms of all things Republican and conservative with an open mind, but Colmes then turns around and declares Bill Clinton the greatest president in the history of the country. Since Colmes devoted so much space to the politics of fighting terrorism in the first third of the book, I figured he would at least discuss Clinton's presidency vis-a-vis terrorism. Not a word, however, other than the fact that the so-called liberal media (which he insists is a conservative media) villified his hero for everything that has gone wrong with foreign policy in the last decade. And in my estimation, Colmes really loses credibility by trying to explain away Clinton's indiscretions with Monica Lewinsky. No, Mr. Colmes, it wasn't a "little white lie." Regardless of the subject matter, Bill Clinton lied under oath in a court of law. If George W. Bush lied about stealing paper clips in a court of law, I'd want him impeached, too. The bottom line is this: Hannity's book appeals to conservatives. Colmes's book appeals to liberals. If you read both, like I have, you'll be so sick of both sides you may not want to watch news any more. I give Colmes three stars for an agreeably easy read, neither adding nor taking away points for his politics. But I expected something which would lay out the case for undecideds (or even conservatives) to give liberalism and Democrat politicians a fair chance. This isn't it.
Rating: 
Summary: A True Liberal
Review: A liberal is not a leftist. The DNC endorsed books are leftist. Alan Colmes does an excellent job of defining what it means to be a liberal. As a conservative, it's very refreshing to hear a solid, compassionate liberal voice. Unlike the other 'liberal' books out there, this one is truly liberal. Many reviewers claim that this book isn't liberal, but if thats the case you're looking for a leftist, not a liberal. Go read one of Al Franken or Michael Moore's books. Unlike them, Alan Colmes is able to understand and respect his opponent in a debate. He doesn't result to defamation. He doesn't hate George Bush, but he does attack Bush's policies. For that matter, George Bush doesn't hate him, having invited him to the White House christmas party. Once again, this is what it means to be a liberal, the others are leftists. Alan Colmes is able to define that.
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Summary: A True Liberal
Review: Was in the neighborhood in North Dallas this past weekend so out of curiosity dropped in to see the book signing by Alan Colmes? In an attempt to break the Ice, Colmes tried cracking a few liberal jokes. There were a few chuckles but mostly groans. Before any signing Colmes started out with a litany of liberal psycho-babble trying to defend what he wrote in each chapter. There were about 25 people there, about half of them liberals and other half, curious people like myself. About 10 minutes into the monolog, unable to take it anymore, bought a copy of 'The Savage Nation,' and quietly walked out. I had read most of 'Red, White and Liberal' before, lent to me by a co-worker. Was not at all the least bit impressed by the book's content or the way it was written.
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Summary: A good history lesson
Review: A good review of events that took place prior to 9-11. Yet occaisionally the book is written like a history textbook rather than expressing Alan Comes' thoughts. As a conservative I found it eye-opening. Colmes presents himself in a humble and classy manner.
Rating:
Summary: Colmes is no liberal
Review: Alan? Learn to have a spine, pal. Your book is weak and you fail to follow through when you take a stand on the issues. Did you even write this yourself? I bet Hannity did it for you, just like how he tells you what to say on your show. At best you're a jester over a water tank for the conservative viewers of FOX News to fling their tomatoes at; at worst, you're Hannity's pet, letting him string you along. You're not a real liberal, Alan. Stop trying to act like one.
Rating:
Summary: Buy the book
Review: Great read. The only problem is that sometimes I feel that Alan is being an apologetic liberal. It's probably because he works for Fox. Alan, you gotta stop being such a nice guy all the time. Attack man!! Attack! Be a fiesty liberal. Let your anger burst out. Let it feel like it's okay to be a liberal. Five stars for calling Bill Clinton the greatest president.
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